Track Your Mate — and Know Your Cutoff
Log every gourd and can in Unbuzz. See your exact caffeine curve and get personalized sleep-safe cutoff times.
From loose-leaf gourd to bottled mate — complete caffeine data, the mateína myth explained, and sleep timing advice.
A prepared 8 oz serving of yerba mate contains approximately 70–85 mg of caffeine — comparable to a moderate cup of coffee. Bottled and canned mate beverages vary widely, from 50 mg to over 150 mg per serving. Caffeine content depends on leaf grade, water temperature, and steep time.
Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a South American holly plant whose dried leaves are traditionally brewed in a hollow gourd and sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla. Modern consumption has expanded to tea bags, loose-leaf loose brewing, and ready-to-drink formats.
| Format | Serving Size | Approx. Caffeine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional gourd (loose leaf) | 8 oz | 70–85 mg | Multiple infusions possible |
| Yerba mate tea bag | 8 oz | 30–55 mg | Lower leaf density |
| Guayakí canned mate | 15.5 oz can | ~150 mg | Per manufacturer label |
| Guayakí Enlighten Mint | 15.5 oz | ~80 mg | Lighter variety |
| Mate concentrate | 2 oz shot | 60–90 mg | Add to water or milk |
| Second infusion (traditional) | 8 oz | 30–50 mg | Same leaves, less caffeine |
| Third infusion (traditional) | 8 oz | 10–25 mg | Most caffeine already extracted |
You may have seen yerba mate marketed with the term "mateína" — sometimes described as a distinct stimulant compound unique to yerba mate. This is largely a marketing concept, not a separate chemical. Research consistently shows that the primary stimulant in yerba mate is standard caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), the same molecule found in coffee and tea.
What does differentiate yerba mate's stimulant profile is its accompanying compounds:
The combination of these compounds — along with caffeine — is why many mate drinkers describe a different "feel" than coffee, even at the same caffeine dose. The effect is real, but the caffeine itself works through the same adenosine-blocking mechanism as in any other caffeinated beverage.
Several factors influence how much caffeine ends up in your cup:
Yerba mate sits in a similar range to coffee, making it a reasonable 1:1 coffee substitute for caffeine purposes. It delivers more caffeine than most teas but less than concentrated energy drinks like Celsius or Monster.
With approximately 70–85 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving, yerba mate follows similar sleep-timing rules as coffee. Caffeine's average half-life is approximately 5 hours, meaning it takes roughly 8–10 hours to fall to a sleep-safe level below 50 mg.
Bedtime at 10:00 PM? Last gourd should be by 2:00 PM.
If you drink canned mate (150+ mg), extend that cutoff earlier. Use the Caffeine Half-Life Calculator to model your specific dose.
The FDA advises a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults. Three traditional gourds of mate (approximately 225–255 mg combined) fits within this limit. Pregnant individuals should stay under 200 mg per day total.
Guayakí is the most widely distributed mate brand in North America. Their canned products contain caffeine from whole-leaf yerba mate and are a convenient comparison point:
| Product | Size | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Guayakí Canned Mate (Classic) | 15.5 oz | ~150 mg |
| Guayakí Enlighten Mint | 15.5 oz | ~80 mg |
| Guayakí Canned (Revel Berry) | 15.5 oz | ~150 mg |
| Traditional loose-leaf gourd | 8 oz | 70–85 mg |
Always verify caffeine on the manufacturer's label, as formulations can change. Canned varieties often also contain organic cane sugar, B vitamins, and antioxidants.
Log every gourd and can in Unbuzz. See your exact caffeine curve and get personalized sleep-safe cutoff times.